In the study, Lionel was seething with rage!He yanked off his tie, irritated by everything around him. With a sweep of his arms, he sent the documents on the table crashing to the floor with a loud bang.A fire burned in his chest, fierce and relentless, as if it might scorch a hole right through him. It hurt!Damn that woman!He had offered to let her return to the master bedroom, promised to make the other woman disappear immediately. He had lowered himself, yet she hadn't even blinked before refusing, insisting he bring that woman into the master bedroom instead!Fine!Let her be ruthless! She didn't care about the master bedroom, did she? She didn't mind him bringing any woman there, did she?Well then! He would show her!He didn't need her!As long as he wanted, thousands of women would flock to him!"Ah..." Lionel went berserk, smashing everything in the study to pieces. In an instant, it looked like a disaster zone.Finally exhausted from the destruction, he collapsed into his
Chloe pushed Lionel hard, shouting, "If you want to... head to your master bedroom! There's a woman waiting for you impatiently in there!""Do you really want me to go to her?" Lionel's voice was hoarse from the alcohol, and even in the darkness, his furrowed brow was evident.Swallowing his anger, he kept his gaze fixed on Chloe's face.Chloe scoffed coldly, "What a joke! What does it matter to me which woman you want to sleep with? Move aside!" She raised her hand and shoved his shoulder forcefully.Though it was hard to see clearly, Lionel could still imagine the coldness of her expression. Her heartless words stabbed at him like a dagger.Feeling a sharp pain in his chest, his voice turned icy. "Yes! It has nothing to do with you! But you are still my woman! Tonight, I'm going to sleep with you!"Without waiting for her response, he bent down and captured her lips."Ugh, get off... you beast! You scoundrel! Who do you think you are, a king?" Chloe protested, kicking and struggling
The sounds from the master bedroom echoed until dawn, gradually subsiding as Chloe sat on the sofa, staring blankly.She didn't want to hear the nauseating noises, yet she stubbornly forced herself to listen until morning.She needed this to stay awake, to remind herself not to indulge in fantasies and to remember that aside from her father, no other man would ever treat her well.Stretching her stiff legs, she made her way downstairs, where the servants were already busy cleaning.As she stepped outside into the front garden, they exchanged glances, unable to suppress their sighs and shakes of their heads.Her eyes were red like a rabbit's, her face pale, and the worry etched on her brow seemed to deepen.Clearly, last night, the master had spent the night with the woman he brought home; otherwise, she wouldn't be in such despair.Chloe approached the swing, sitting down and absentmindedly rocking back and forth. She closed her eyes, letting the cold autumn breeze wash over her, feel
Chloe stood in front of the mirror, her eyes cast downward, revealing only her long, delicate lashes. Her jade-like face had a hint of alluring pink, and her rounded, upturned nose was a striking perfection. Her lips, though devoid of any lipstick, were still irresistibly rosy and moist.Suddenly, she glanced at the clock on the wall; it was the umpteenth time she had checked the time. The hands pointed to 9 PM. She curved her lips into a radiant smile at her reflection, looking as breathtaking as a goddess fallen to earth.Today was Valentine's Day, and like other couples, Chloe was also preparing to spend a romantic evening with her boyfriend, Amos.Thinking of Amos's warm and handsome face, Chloe couldn't help but smile, despite pressing her lips together.She checked the time again—9:05 PM. Chloe's delicate brows furrowed slightly.They had agreed yesterday, when they parted, to have dinner together tonight and plan the rest of the evening. However, Amos later sent a message sayin
Not far away, she saw the woman's black lace underwear intertwined suggestively with a pair of bright red boxers.She wouldn't be naïve enough to think this was some kind of strip show between a man and a woman.The clothes were strewn about so chaotically and intimately that just looking at them made her blush, further fueling her imagination of the intense passion that had erupted here.The sounds coming from inside the room were clear, as if to confirm her worst fears. Each moan, louder than the last, made it impossible for her to pretend she didn't understand."Amos, Amos... ah..." The woman's voice, laced with desire, called out sweetly.The response was a series of deep, heavy breaths.Chloe's face turned deathly pale. She bit her lip hard, her vision blurring as her trembling hands gripped the phone tightly.How absurd. She had been waiting for him since 5 PM, anxious and restless, not even drinking a sip of tea just to be ready for him.She struggled to move her feet forward,
A week laterBlues Bar, located on a somewhat secluded street, hadn't always done well in business, but ever since Chloe started working there, the place had become more popular by the day.Her music was like a spell, capable of calming people's anger, bringing them joy, and making them feel completely at ease.For an entire week, Chloe had been missing. The bar owner, Mag, had tried calling her so many times that her phone was nearly dead, but she still couldn't reach her.Customers were growing more restless, almost to the point of tearing the bar apart.Tonight, the bar was packed again, and with only five minutes left until showtime, there was still no sign of Chloe. Mag was starting to sweat with worry.Standing on her toes, Mag anxiously scanned the bar, and finally, she saw a figure dressed in white appear around the corner. She couldn't contain her excitement and shouted, "She's here! Chloe's here!"Instantly, the bar fell silent. As Chloe stepped inside, hundreds of pairs of
Later.When Chloe opened the door, she felt utterly exhausted, wanting nothing more than a bath and some rest. To her shock, she found herself face-to-face with a heavily made-up face on the sofa.The sight stunned her so much that she nearly dropped her bag.It was the first time she'd seen her since that day. Just the sight of that face made Chloe recall the image of them entwined together, and instinctively, she wanted to avoid it.Flora was quicker, grabbing her hand. "Chloe! Stop!"Chloe stared blankly at the face in front of her."Let go!" She didn't want to get entangled with her. She didn't hate her sister; she only hated herself for believing a man's sweet lies.Chloe felt none of the heartache she expected. Flora, red with anger, shouted, "Chloe, you heartless monster! I slept with your man! I was FUCKED your man! Are you blind or deaf?"How could she not feel pain? She had slept with her man just to make her suffer—to suffer so much that she couldn't breathe, so much that s
Two Months Later.Bar ParadisoPeople called it paradise on earth—a world of luxury and excess that others spent their whole lives pursuing. Yet, it was a world of decadence and corruption.In one of the lavish private rooms, a man lounged on a sofa in the corner. His face was so strikingly handsome that it seemed like the masterpiece of a dedicated artist, sculpted with the utmost care. His sharp, defined features exuded a wild, yet refined allure, with an aura of untouchable power.Resting his elegant chin on one hand, his deep brown eyes—mysterious and unfathomable, like a bottomless pool—gazed thoughtfully at an ancient painting on the wall. He gently swirled the wine in his glass, lost in thought.With a tilt of his head, the fiery red liquid flowed smoothly down his throat, filling his mouth with its rich aroma. His cold, somber face, shrouded in the dim light, was a stark contrast to the vibrant, lively scene behind him.Suddenly, the crisp sound of high heels clicking against
The sounds from the master bedroom echoed until dawn, gradually subsiding as Chloe sat on the sofa, staring blankly.She didn't want to hear the nauseating noises, yet she stubbornly forced herself to listen until morning.She needed this to stay awake, to remind herself not to indulge in fantasies and to remember that aside from her father, no other man would ever treat her well.Stretching her stiff legs, she made her way downstairs, where the servants were already busy cleaning.As she stepped outside into the front garden, they exchanged glances, unable to suppress their sighs and shakes of their heads.Her eyes were red like a rabbit's, her face pale, and the worry etched on her brow seemed to deepen.Clearly, last night, the master had spent the night with the woman he brought home; otherwise, she wouldn't be in such despair.Chloe approached the swing, sitting down and absentmindedly rocking back and forth. She closed her eyes, letting the cold autumn breeze wash over her, feel
Chloe pushed Lionel hard, shouting, "If you want to... head to your master bedroom! There's a woman waiting for you impatiently in there!""Do you really want me to go to her?" Lionel's voice was hoarse from the alcohol, and even in the darkness, his furrowed brow was evident.Swallowing his anger, he kept his gaze fixed on Chloe's face.Chloe scoffed coldly, "What a joke! What does it matter to me which woman you want to sleep with? Move aside!" She raised her hand and shoved his shoulder forcefully.Though it was hard to see clearly, Lionel could still imagine the coldness of her expression. Her heartless words stabbed at him like a dagger.Feeling a sharp pain in his chest, his voice turned icy. "Yes! It has nothing to do with you! But you are still my woman! Tonight, I'm going to sleep with you!"Without waiting for her response, he bent down and captured her lips."Ugh, get off... you beast! You scoundrel! Who do you think you are, a king?" Chloe protested, kicking and struggling
In the study, Lionel was seething with rage!He yanked off his tie, irritated by everything around him. With a sweep of his arms, he sent the documents on the table crashing to the floor with a loud bang.A fire burned in his chest, fierce and relentless, as if it might scorch a hole right through him. It hurt!Damn that woman!He had offered to let her return to the master bedroom, promised to make the other woman disappear immediately. He had lowered himself, yet she hadn't even blinked before refusing, insisting he bring that woman into the master bedroom instead!Fine!Let her be ruthless! She didn't care about the master bedroom, did she? She didn't mind him bringing any woman there, did she?Well then! He would show her!He didn't need her!As long as he wanted, thousands of women would flock to him!"Ah..." Lionel went berserk, smashing everything in the study to pieces. In an instant, it looked like a disaster zone.Finally exhausted from the destruction, he collapsed into his
Lionel's cold voice was indeed intimidating; he was a proud and arrogant man. But in reality, it wasn't Chloe begging him—he was the one begging her to come back. He was just using a different way to save face.In love, everyone is equal!For love, no matter how fierce he pretended to be, he remained humble as dust.They both loved each other, yet neither was willing to back down or lay bare their hearts. They thought that yielding first would make them seem weak and that withholding their true feelings would give them control.But in truth, those who refuse to open their hearts are often the ones who lose control! In the end, they hurt only themselves.That was how they were—both proud and stubborn, equally cold, unwilling to show their true feelings for fear of being hurt, ridiculed, or trampled.In the end, they both ended up hurting each other deeply. Even at the height of their pain, they still wouldn't admit that they loved one another.Well, if they were going to be this stubbo
Chloe leaned against the doorframe with both hands."Did Lionel tell you to stay here? What's the matter? Afraid to go to the master bedroom? Or is it that you're just not allowed in there?" Her voice dripped with sarcasm, something she was quite capable of, though she didn't always choose to indulge.Moira's face twisted in anger at Chloe's taunt."Get out of my way! I can stay wherever I please! It's none of your business, BITCH!" She screamed, grabbing Chloe's arm and forcefully pulling her out of the room.Weak from skipping both lunch and dinner and still groggy from sleep, Chloe stumbled as Moira yanked her aside. She barely managed to regain her balance after a few unsteady steps.Moira stormed into Chloe's room and slammed the door shut. Inside, the sounds of drawers being ransacked filled the air.Moments later, the door flew open, and with a loud 'thud,' Chloe's bag, clothes, and skincare products were tossed out into the hallway, scattered all over the floor. Some bottles s
At dinner, only Lionel, Moira, and Florence were seated at the table.Ten minutes passed, and no one made a move.Seeing the situation, Moira's eyes darted around. Could Lionel be waiting for that woman to join them?A sly smile tugged at the corner of her lips as she leaned closer to Lionel, softly whining, "Lion, are we expecting another guest? I'm starving..."She feigned innocence but cursed inwardly: That bitch better leave tomorrow and spare everyone the headache.Lionel didn't even glance at Moira, his attention still fixed on the newspaper in his hands. Moira's face immediately paled from the cold shoulder.Meanwhile, Florence, observing quietly, could instantly tell that her brother and Chloe had fallen out.Florence loathed this newly arrived woman.She wasn't too fond of Chloe, but even Chloe was better than this garishly dressed woman.From the way Moira moved and the look in her eyes, she was practically throwing herself at Lionel.Spoiled as Florence was, she never held
Chloe sat by the windowsill, her mind replaying Lionel's cold expression, and her heart ached uncontrollably. The pain was sharp, so vivid that she couldn't ignore it.Could it be that she... had truly developed feelings for him?Otherwise, why did it hurt so much to see him bring another woman home?The urge to storm up to him, grab him by the collar, and demand an explanation—while throwing Moira out so she'd stop disgusting her—was overwhelming.Yes, the reason she cried so hard yesterday wasn't just because Cynthia met a terrible man, but because she, too, was about to leave the man she had fallen for.If she hadn't developed feelings for him, she wouldn't feel this reluctant. If she hadn't fallen for him, she wouldn't feel so devastated.It turns out, the heart she thought had long turned cold hadn't actually died—it was revived by Lionel, beating fiercely again.Perhaps, all his care for her had unknowingly woven a net that trapped her heart, leaving her unable to escape, fallin
Seeing Chloe's pale face alternating between shades of green and white, Grace felt a sense of satisfaction, while Moira's arrogance seemed to rise even higher.Admiring Chloe's distressed expression, Moira deliberately provoked her. "What now? Still planning to kick me out?"She then turned to Grace with mock authority and shouted, "Can't you see the madam is upset? Go fetch some water, now!"Her smug attitude made it seem as though she were the real mistress of the house.Grace's lips twitched at Moira's outburst, and she quickly lowered her head, mumbling obediently, "Yes, yes, right away!"Hadn't they just been on the same side? Now Moira was shouting at her. Clearly, if she hoped to enjoy a few peaceful days, it wasn't going to happen.Grace was furious but didn't dare show it. In her heart, she compared Chloe and Moira. One was cold and indifferent, always dressed like a beggar, with a face that looked as though the world owed her millions—definitely not someone people liked. The
On her way home, Chloe's mood plunged to an all-time low. She wasn't sure how long she had cried with Cynthia, but oddly enough, she had cried even harder than Cynthia!Her eyes were swollen like walnuts, her legs weak and unsteady. Both of them were hungry, yet neither could stomach any food. The two sisters had a good cry together.She didn't understand where all her tears had come from, gushing out like a dam had broken. Ever since her father's death, she hadn't shed a tear in ages! She had thought she'd cried herself dry after he passed.No matter how difficult or painful things were, she never allowed herself to cry.But ever since entering the Williams household, it seemed like the rules had changed. Her long-dry tear ducts had suddenly sprung to life again!She remembered crying in Lionel's arms more than once, but she couldn't even recall what had made her cry on those occasions.And today? Why had she cried so much today? Was it really just for Cynthia?She had no idea how lo